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“What began as a small organization, born of a bold act of idealism in the eastern United States in 1951, has now become a global enterprise. ”— Steve McCormick |
The Nature Conservancy’s evolution over the years reflects our abiding commitment to continuous improvement. What began as a small organization, born of a bold act of idealism in the eastern United States in 1951, has now become a global enterprise — one that retains our founders’ underlying philosophy of pursuing pragmatic actions to achieve tangible results. We have never been content to rest on our laurels.
As we confront the complex challenges of the 21st century, we are increasingly aware of the global imperative of our mission. Natural systems do not conform to political boundaries, and the most serious threats to biological diversity — such as climate change, invasive species and illegal forestry practices — require solutions on a global scale. And so, in our constant pursuit of excellence, innovation and effective partnerships, we have evolved into a global organization.
With this issue of Nature Conservancy, you will see several symbolic manifestations of our evolution; first among them, a revised logo and motto. Our iconic oak leaf has undergone several revisions over the past half century. What began as a static representation of our early days in the United States has now evolved into green leaves that envelop the planet. It is an apt symbol of a global outlook grounded in place-based action.
So, too, the motto “Saving the Last Great Places” has served us well, and, indeed, securing the best examples of natural habitat will always be a pillar of our work. But we do much more these days. “Protecting nature. Preserving life” is a more apt encapsulation of our work in the 21st century.
Protecting nature takes on many forms, from buying land to helping shape integrated watershed-management plans to using our on-the-ground experience to inform decisions on public policy. And the life that we preserve is not just that of pandas and jaguars, redwoods and orchids — it is also the lives of humans, in prosperous nations and in the developing world. By adopting this seemingly simple motto, we underscore the complex notion that our own well-being, and that of all the generations that follow, is inextricably linked to a healthy, intact natural world.
There are other changes you may notice as well. In a fall 2006 survey, we learned that our members rank the magazine as their favorite benefit of membership. Accordingly, we are introducing some editorial changes that we hope will keep you better informed about the whole range of our work and the people behind it.
“Meet the Board,” for example, puts a face on our volunteer leadership, profiling in each issue one of the generous men and women who lend their talent, expertise and drive to guide this institution to excel. “Now & Then” is a new department that reexamines some of our earliest projects to see how they have endured and evolved over time.
Another change reflects our growing partnership with the Society for Conservation Biology. We benefit enormously from our interaction with the society and the conservation scientists who compose much of its membership, including those on our staff. Now we will regularly share an article from the pages of its award-winning magazine, Conservation, to enhance your understanding of the complex issues that shape our conservation actions.
It has been said that the world is changing faster now than ever before. Change can be a dizzying challenge to our personal and social stability. But change, like natural evolution, enables us to adapt, and to do what it takes to address, with increasing sophistication and expanded impact, the global challenges of conservation and the well-being of humanity.
Steven J. McCormick
President and CEO
The Nature Conservancy
Autumn 2007
Read the previous message from Steve McCormick.
